My blog provides alternative view on Kashmir dispute and politics of South Asia, especially India Pakistan relations. It aims to educate people that they can make informed judgements.

Monday, 7 May 2018

Demanding without grace, Dr Saulat Nagi

Demanding without grace, Dr Saulat Nagi

There goes the big piece of the cake as a mouthwatering
feast for those who are perpetually in a habit of demanding the largest share
without much grace while receiving it without thanks. ‘Political power’, Mao
says, “grows out from the barrel of a gun” and keeping in view the political
conditions of the world in general and Pakistan in specific he cannot be more
succinct.

Yet pointing a barrel of a gun to the temple of an unarmed
person has never been a graceful act but in the last decade or so, this ghastly
method is in vogue. Not many hearts flutter by the excesses inflicted by those
holding the means of destruction in their hands pulverising and plundering the
resources of individuals, masses or nations. So vivid is the lust and so brazen
is the style that the perpetrators scarcely care to hide the dagger that cuts
the entrails of the masses. Custom has made it in them the property of
easiness. The power wears what the pain fashions with its rough rugged hands.

Imperialism, a product of inner tussle between capitalist
nations is innately hostile to the cause of humanity; no one has any ambiguity
about its nefarious designs. Nevertheless, its success largely depends upon the
objective conditions prevalent in a society affecting the consciousness of the
people. Where the consciousness is blithe, the state can manipulate the
conditions to its advantage by conflagrating the paranoia of security that
helps to subvert liberty for security. People permitting this bargain ‘deserve
neither liberty nor security’.

There is no denying that Pakistani state is plagued with the
lethal phobia of insecurity, the main cause of its grief that has paid
dividends to the Pretorian guards. The butcher’s ax that mercilessly amputated
a couple of wings from a large Indian sub-continent against the will of
majority fulfilled the design of the colonial masters an immediate loss was
turned into an advantage by imperialism. At home, the lack of political
struggle left a void, filled immediately by the civil-military bureaucracy.
Even a myth of nominal political freedom devoid of economic liberation became a
mirage.

A terrific appeal to the aura of nationalism — in sanity veiled,
as sanity — is a universal characteristic of the middle-class. When the
colourful ties such as flags are waved or a national anthem is played to honour
the state — an antithesis to human liberation — a shiver of false pride runs
through its spine.

What an irony that the fictitious face of society treats the
underprivileged living beings as suspects, a waste product, but bestows the
honour upon the state, an inanimate object, the reason of exploitation
forgetting that it is the people who make the history and state and not vice-
versa. It is a classic case of Stockholm syndrome.

The alienated class having a sole objective of self-preservation
universally becomes the self-proclaimed conscience of the nation. By supporting
an extravagant defence budget, to the perfection of waste, its innate
uncertainty wears the cloak of security and liberty, the concepts it can rarely
transcend.

Pakistani middle class is no exception, it stands completely
alienated from the reality, plagued by puritanism it is a flag bearer of
religious fascism. Without its connivance, the law of blasphemy could not have
made its hideous and grisly appearance. It spews venom against both religious
and ethnic minorities, supports jingoism, prides in its mediocrity, seeks
refuge in the ethics of primitive era while loving the western food and norms
if not its culture, a perfect tool for the hegemonic classes and its Pretorian
guards. With the addition of the lumpen element of society, it turns out to be
a lethal force that effectively fights against its own liberation.

As the curse of Taliban was not enough, to enhance the role of religion in the
faith-dependent middle-class, a Rizvi edition of a violent brand was introduced
and marketed by the invisible force, which paralysed the daily life by blocking
the roads and the common sense. After a strange one-sided, rigged encounter
with the out of favour rulers, the victory and, the war — exploits were handed
over to the Caliban. But here lies the rub, the brands are not produced by the
previously collected experience of production, hence after a certain period,
they are bound to eclipse. All artificial movements backed and spurred by the
anti-people forces have succumbed to the same fate.

In recent days, a new whirlwind of protest has taken over
Pakistan. Its epicentre lies in one of the backward areas of the country, which
is under the constant blaze of firepower from both the state and the
imperialism. Apparently, a spontaneous movement led by the middle-class youngsters
has genuine demands.

The rule of a powerful
institution does not augur well for the integrity of the state. If history
stands witness to one amputation, given the similar situation it may not
hesitate to repeat it again. This is the law of physics. One can afford to
spurn Dr Abdus Salam, a physicist but can only flout the laws of physics at his
own peril

The protracted, senseless, grisly Pretorian rule always leads to
unchecked narcissism. In every man of khaki, dwells a Pinochet as his other or
Hyde. Gone are the days when the vociferous non-conformist expressions were
fettered, the custom has withered, instead in the wee hours of the night rebels
are picked up, not only their voices are stifled but their bodies too are
mutilated beyond recognition. Pakistan creates its own Victor Jaras.

It is a common occurrence in the least mentioned Balochistan and
now the same phenomenon has forced the youngsters of FATA to throw their
gauntlets and to take up the cudgels. What a shame that seventy years after
winning an independence people living in backward areas is still governed by
the colonial laws that explain the contempt Pakistan’s ruling class has for the
freedom. It also confirms that Pakistan has its own Guantanamo — bays where
domination is maintained through overt coercion. Pity that instead of advancing
to the 21st century the rulers refusing the enlightenment have decided to keep
the masses limited to its margins.

The area of FATA has dominant tribal relations, lacking the working class hence
its culture the petty- bourgeoisie has become the face of this new peaceful
Pathan movement carrying a large segment of the lumpen element along. What is
the source of its funding is still unclear? However, it is quite evident that
in Pakistani scenario, three major interest groups are competing to grab the
monopoly over the capital. The foreign interest, largely the Chinese is already
leading the race.

Among the local capital, the army remained an unchallenged force
calling the shot on its whims, but now the third civilian force has emerged
which is competing with the army to secure its share. The youthful secular
movement can be one of the vanguards of the civilian capital.

Is Pakhtun movement led by the drug barons or backed by the
Pretorian guards to form another axillary group, a political party to control
the civilian affairs or a spontaneous rebellion is yet to be comprehended. The
second possibility might sound a conspiracy theory but one cannot be dismissive
about it.

Despite raising some extremely provocative slogans against the
army, the overzealous establishment has curbed the temptation to touch its
leaders. Whereas the state refuses to relent against the youngsters of the
left- front, who are packed in prisons for merely participating in the peaceful
movement, the major actors are left unscathed. It is amazing to note that the
defender of the faith, the Rizvi factor, invariably used against the
crestfallen enemy is yet to be unleashed on this innately secular movement.

These are interesting yet eventful times. The contest between
the weak civilian bourgeoisie and robust military capital is at its zenith. The
odds are stacked against the masses, barring the chains they have nothing to
lose. Nevertheless, Marx’s proletariat is neither a crowd nor a mass. They are
class -conscious workers who according to Lukacs have already reached to the
sublime pedestal where ‘the revolutionary theoreticians of revolutionary
discourse arrive by using intellectual powers and spiritual labour’.

By losing its opportunities, Pakistani bourgeoisie has failed
the nation and perhaps its feeble and compromised existence has spurred the
failure of the transformation of a motley mob into a nation. It utilizes the
same fascist weapons of blasphemy to denigrate the national heroes such as Abdus
Salam to win the sympathy of Jihadis. Due to its objective dumbness, instead of
the state, its armed organ is perpetually ruling the country. The rule of a
powerful institution does not augur well for the integrity of the state. If
history stands witness to one amputation, given the similar situation it may
not hesitate to repeat it again. This is the law of physics. One can afford to
spurn Dr Abdus Salam, a physicist but can only flout the laws of physics at his
own peril.

The writer has authored books on
socialism and history. He blogs at saulatnagi.wordpress.com and can be reached
atsaulatnagi@hotmail.com

About Me

Dr Shabir Choudhry has done extensive research on the issue of Kashmir and Indo Pakistan relations. He passed BA Honours in Politics and History, and Mphil in International Relations (title of the thesis, ‘Kashmir and Partition of India’); and title of his PhD thesis is ‘Kashmir- An issue of a nation not a dispute of a land’.

Apart from this Dr Shabir Choudhry passed Post Graduates Certificates in Education, and NVQ Assessor’s qualifications; and taught English in London.

Political Achievements

Founder member of JKLF (Jammu Kashmir Liberation Front established in 1977) and got elected as a Press Secretary in 1984.

Became its Secretary General in 1985, and resigned from this post in 1996.

Got elected President of JKLF and Europe in May 1999, and decided not to contest in elections of July 2001.

Said good - bye to the JKLF as it is in many groups and is largely seen as advancing a Pakistani agenda on Kashmir dispute, and set up a new party Kashmir National Party in May 2008.

.

At present, he is:

·Spokesman Kashmir National Party and Director Diplomatic Committee;

·Spokesman for International KashmirAlliance;

·Founder member and Director Institute of Kashmir Affairs;

Previously

·A founder Member and Trustee/ Director of London based registered charity, Kashmir Foundation International and resigned from this position in August 2001.

·Regularly take part in the Sessions of the UN Human Rights (Commission) now Council in Geneva; and address various conferences and seminars to oppose violence and highlight the Kashmir cause.

·Participated in a Round Table Conference on Kashmir, organised by Socialist Group of European Parliament in Brussels in 1993.

·Addressed as a Chief Guest in a seminar on issue of Mangla Dam during the UN Sub Commission’s proceedings in August 2003.

·Addressed as a key - note speaker in a seminar on the issue of Gilgit and Baltistan, organised by Association of British Kashmiris.

·Addressed as a keynote speaker on human rights conference in Paris in 1991.

·Addressed at CambridgeUniversity as a Chief Guest in a conference on Kashmir in 1990.

·Addressed as a keynote speaker at New Delhi conference on Kashmir, which was part of Track Two diplomacy in November 2000.

·In September 2008, addressed a Conference arranged by Interfaith International in Geneva, topic of which was:“Kashmir Issue, Terrorism and Human Rights”.

·Addressed as a speaker in a NGO Conference on Self - Determination in Geneva in August 2000.

·Addressed as a keynote speaker in a fringe meeting of Liberal Democrats at their Annual Conference in Brighton in 1995.

·Participated in World Human Rights Conference in Vienna in 1993.

·Before President Clinton's visit to India and Pakistan in 2000, lead a JKLF delegation to the State Department to discuss Kashmir dispute and situation in South Asia.

·Also had two rounds of meetings with senior State Department officials before President Musharraf’s meeting to Washington in June 2003.

·Apart from that had meetings with senior officials including Ministers of different countries, and also held many meetings with the State Department and Foreign and Commonwealth Office officials on number of occasions.

·Played important role in advancing a Kashmiri perspective on the issue of Jammu and Kashmir; and also helped Baroness Emma Nicholson with her report ‘Kashmir: present situation and future prospects’, which was adopted by the European Parliament in May 2007.

·Won first prize in an essay competition in Urdu in 1976. It was organised by High Commission of Pakistan in London, and title of the essay was 'Qaaid-e- Azam's role in Islamic History'.

·Apart from that have addressed conferences in Brussels, Geneva, Toronto, Islamabad, Delhi, and

Publications

·Got first Urdu novel ‘Fareena’ published at the age of eighteen.

·Second Urdu novel ‘Bay-Khataa’ which was about the problems of Asian youths living in UK published in 1983.

·Third Urdu book ‘Pakistan and Kashmiri struggle for independence’ published in 1990.

·Fourth Urdu book is also on Kashmiri struggle, 'Is an independent Kashmir a conspiracy?'

·Apart from that has twenty books and booklets published in English on various aspects of the Kashmiri struggle.

·Recent publications are: Kashmir dispute as I see it

·Different perspective on Kashmir

·JKLF visit to Pakistan Administered Kashmir

·Kashmir Needs Change of Heart

·If not self - determination then what?

·Emma Nicholson report- who has won?

·Struggle for independence, Jihad or proxy war (Introduction by Baroness Emma Nicholson)

·

Future publications

Following books were completed some time ago and shall be published in near future:

In Search of Freedom - My visit to Srinagar and Islamabad

Kashmir and Partition of India

A brief background

Dr Shabir Choudhry was born in a small village called Nakker Shimali (near Panjeri) in District Bhimber, Azad Kashmir. He went to UK in 1966, and like other people from the region, holds a dual nationality. He left secondary school in 1970 with no qualifications and began his life as a textile worker.

In 1975 he started part time studies and passed Matriculation from Government High School Panjeri, passed ‘O’ and ‘A’ levels from UK, and resumed full time degree course in 1981, and passed BA (Hons) in Politics and History in 1984.

He continued full time and part time jobs until he got his Mphil. He passed his PGCE (Post Graduates Certificate in Education) in 1990, and then started full time job as a Lecturer. Due to health problems he resigned from teaching in 1999. At present he is self - employed, provides private tuition, translation and interpretation and consultancy.

Through out his adult life he has actively worked for the cause of Kashmir, and even during long illness he effectively carried out his responsibilities as a leader of the JKLF, a ‘prolific writer’ and consistent campaigner of Rights Movement and peace in Jammu and Kashmir and South Asia.